January 10, 2004: Germany’s political parties are becoming more vocal in their support to have the German language declared the European Union’s third official working language. German is the most widely spoken first language within the European Union. Read more »
February 23, 2004: During her visit to Turkey last week, Christian Democratic Union chairman Angela Merkel offered Turkish prime minister Erdogan a "privileged partnership" with the EU instead of full membership. EU membership for Turkey affects German politics. Read more »
March 1, 2004: German chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s support for Turkey’s bid to join the EU during his visit to Turkey last week brought criticism from within his own Social Democratic Party (SPD). Even Helmut Schmidt opposes Turkish EU membership. Read more »
March 8, 2004: Wolfgang Schäuble, for years a political ally of former chancellor Helmut Kohl, rejects Turkey’s bid to join the EU. As a senior foreign policy expert within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Schäuble’s comments are noteworthy. Read more »
March 16, 2004: Last week’s terrorist attack in Madrid, Spain has German politicians discussing the possibility of implementing new homeland security measures, including using the German army domestically for additional protection, even for the U.S. military. Read more »
March 23, 2004: German news media noted a difference in the official reaction by the European Union and the United States to the assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin by the Israeli military. Europeans generally see America as being pro-Israeli. Read more »
March 30, 2004: Last week Pope John Paul II made a rare exception and accepted an award, the "Charlemagne prize" from the city of Aachen, Charlemagne’s old capital city. The award is given each year to someone who contributes to European unity and peace. Read more »
April 10, 2004: A district court in the city of Hamburg orders the release of the only suspect convicted for involvement in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America. The court’s decision causes different reactions in Germany and in the United States. Read more »
April 18, 2004: "The road map is dead," was the reaction of "Die Welt" after President George Bush became the first U.S. President to accept Israeli settlements in the West Bank during a meeting in Washington with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Read more »
April 24, 2004: "Tony Blair gives England a choice: the EU or isolation" was how the prestigious "Die Zeit" viewed the British prime minister’s announcement that British voters will decide in a referendum if they will accept the EU constitution. Read more »
May 2, 2004: At midnight yesterday 10 countries officially joined the European Union, increasing EU population by 74 million people. A special session of Germany’s "Bundestag" was marred by controversy over the possibility of EU membership for Turkey. Read more »
May 12, 2004: German and European news media publish scathing comments on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. "The pictures from Abu Ghraib are like a monstrous production of every cliché about American imperialism," according to SPIEGEL ONLINE. Read more »
May 21, 2004: After a five month break, foreign ministers from all 25 European Union countries resumed negotiations in Brussels this week on the proposed EU constitution. After two days of talks, the diplomats adjourned their meeting without reaching an agreement. Read more »
May 24, 2004: Speaking at a lawyers’ convention, (CDU) senior member Heiner Geißler, once a member of Helmut Kohl’s cabinet, called the prison abuse scandal involving U. S. military personnel in Iraq the "greatest triumph of the terrorists." Read more »
June 4, 2004: This year Gerhard Schröder will be the first German chancellor ever to take part in the June 6 D-Day memorial celebrations in France. However, Schröder is criticized by his opponents in Germany for a lack of patriotism on the historic weekend. Read more »
June 8, 2004: On the 60th anniversary of D-Day, German news media comment on the strain in relations between Europe and the United States, a result of President George W. Bush’s decision to go to war against Iraq without the support of important European allies. Read more »
June 17, 2004: The German supreme court has upheld the "store closing law" and its special protection of Sunday and holidays as work-free days. The department store chain "Kaufhof" had challenged the law over its prohibition of store hours on Sunday. Read more »
June 23, 2004: In a unanimous decision by the state legislature, Saarland has become the federal third state in Germany to prohibit Muslim teachers from wearing the Muslim head scarf during work hours at school. The decision does not affect Christian and Jewish symbols. Read more »
July 4, 2004: Germany’ 1954 World Cup victory "was more than just a game," according to President Johannes Rau. One sports broadcaster said that the victory allowed the Germans "to walk upright once again" after their defeat in World War II. Read more »
July 23, 2004: Following a recent trend at other major companies, employees and management at DaimlerChrysler reach an agreement to reduce costs by having employees work longer hours for the same pay. Wage competition from new EU members is a key factor in the decision. Read more »
August 17, 2004: President George W. Bush’s plan for large reductions in U.S. troop levels in Europe has drawn mixed reactions in Germany, which is likely to bear the brunt of the reduction. There are about 70,000 troops in Germany, along with 100,000 dependents. Read more »
August 26, 2004: President Bush’s decision to reduce U.S. military presence in Europe, primarily Germany, will impact a number of communities. Baumholder, Germany, is a good example, where American soldiers and their dependents outnumber the local German population. Read more »
September 13, 2004: A special exhibition titled "The Image of Europe" at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels symbolizes the ascendancy of the European Union, with the euro depicted as breaking the "overbearing monopoly of the dollar" by 2010. Read more »
October 1, 2004: How can the European Union become a real world power? Former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt says that "if the EU wants to assert itself in tomorrow’s world, its leading members must undergo reform and speak to America with one voice." Read more »
October 22, 2004: Are German courts required to follow decisions made by the European court for human rights in Strasbourg, France? Not according to a decision this week by Germany’s highest court, the "Bundesverfassungsgericht" in an important test case. Read more »
November 8, 2004: After months of wrangling over the text of the treaty, the European Union has finally agreed on a constitution. Will it be approved by all 25 member states in time to be implemented on schedule on January 1, 2007? The outcome is by no means certain. Read more »
November 20, 2004: Anti-Muslim violence in the Netherlands, a country known for its tolerance, prompts calls for better integration of foreigners within the EU. The violent reaction in the Netherlands prompts words of caution and demands from leading German politicians. Read more »
December 4, 2004: Growing concern over Microsoft’s dominance of the IBM PC software market motivates 2400 independent users in Germany to sponsor an ad promoting the new web browser "Firefox." Are the Microsoft-based PCs used by the German army secure? Read more »
December 26, 2004: In an historic decision, European Union leaders have agreed to begin official negotiations with Turkey on that country’s request to become a member of the EU. Will those negotiations be successful? If so, what impact will Turkey have on the EU? Read more »
